Can carriers



P. RAND/x220 CAN CARRIERS Feb. 18, 1969 Filed Sept. 22. 1967 w w m R ER U M A D. U U M m U H: U U g 2 f 4 I I I l I l l I l l l Ill 2 U U m 2 U. 4 4 m I 1 1 I I l 1 i 1 I: F a

United States Patent 3,428,235 CAN CARRIERS Pasquale Randazzo, 283 Livingstone Road, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada Filed Sept. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 669,752 US. Cl. 229-40 Int. Cl. B65d /12, 5/06 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to can carriers and more particularly to collapsible cartons of the type especially suitable for carrying cylindrical containers, such as cylindrical metal cans of liquid beverages.

The use of collapsible cartons for carrying such cylindrical containers is well known but the previously known cartons have presented several disadvantages. For instance, many of the previously known cartons have a limited capacity and strength.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved can carrier which is particularly suited to the carrying of cylindrical containers and which has improved strength and capacity.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carton of relatively simple construction which can be formed as a single flat blank which in turn can be erected into a carton in a simple manner without the use of any tools or adhesive.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carton in which the articles being carried are securely held and yet from which such articles can readily be removed when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton in which the articles contained therein are readily visible without opening the carton.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by means of a can-carrying carton comprising a base and a pair of opposing sides which are integral with and extend upwardly from said base and at least one end member integral with said base and having two upwardly extending edges from each of which there projects at least one tongue, each said tongue having at least one tab projecting outwardly from each edge thereof, each of said pair of opposing sides being provided with slots of substantially the same width as said tongues, so that, on engagement of said tongues with their tabs in said slots, said end member of said carton is securely but removably held in position to close the end of said carton.

In general, the can-carrying cartons of the present invention will be formed so that their opposing sides convergently slope inwardly and upwardly to the longitudinal median plane of the carton and so that their end members have triangular configurations.

In order to permit the articles contained in a carton to be removed from either end, both ends of the carton will generally be formed in the described manner. By extending the aforementioned slots in the sides of the carton, apertures are formed through which the interior of the carton and any articles contained therein are readily visible thereby avoiding the need to open the carton to 3,428,235 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 determine the nature of its contents and even abrogating the need for indicating the identity of the contents on the carton material.

The invention will now be described by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a can-carrying carton according to the invention in its assembled form and containing twelve cylindrical containers,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the carton of FIG- URE 1 in its partly assembled form,

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view through the carton and its contests of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the carton of FIGURE 1 in its fiat unassembled form.

The carton shown in the drawings and generally indicated at 1 comprises a generally square base 2 and a pair of opposing sides 4 and 6 which are integral with the base 2 at score or fold lines 8 and 10 respectively. The carton also comprises a pair of end members 12 and 14 which are triangular in shape and integral with the base 2 at scores or fold lines 16 and 18 respectively.

Each of the end members 12 and 14 is provided on each of its upwardly extending edges with an equal number of tongues 20, shown in the drawing as three, each of which in turn is provided on its upper and lower edge with a number of tabs 22. It will be noted that each of the sides 4 and 6 is provided with a plurality of slots 24, which are disposed so that, when the carton is in its assembled form, as shown in FIGURE 1, each tongue 20 is aligned with a slot 24.

The sides 4 and 6 terminate at their outer ends in generally semi-circular pieces 26 and 28 respectively in which corresponding handle-forming apertures 30 and 32 respectively are provided in registering relation to the assembled condition of the carton.

In order to assemble the carton from the blank form of FIGURE 4, the side 6 is folded upwardly along the fold or score line 10. The end members 12 and 1-4 are then folded upwardly along the fold or score lines 16 and 18 respectively and the tongues 20 are next folded over the outer surface of side 6 and the tabs 22 of these tongues are inserted in the slots 24 of side 6 to provide the partly assembled carton shown in FIGURE 2. Cans 34 may then be placed in the carton before folding the side 4 upwardly along the fold or score line 8 and engaging the tabs 22 of the remaining tongues 20 in the slots 24 of side 4 to close the carton. It will be noted that in its fully assembled form as shown in FIGURE 1, the semi-circular portions 26 and 28 will be folded slightly along fold or score lines 38 and 40 respectively and that the apertures 30' and 32 therein will be in alignment with each other to form conveniently a handle by which the carton can be carried.

In order to remove the contents of a carton, it is simply necessary to release the tabs of the tongues on one of the end members from inside the slots 24 and pull outwardly and downwardly on the end member so as to leave the contents exposed for removal. Although a carton has hereinbefore been described which has a pair of identical end members, it will be appreciated that it is within the scope of the invention to provide only one end of a carton with tongues and tabs in the manner described.

It will be noted from FIGURE 1 that the slots 24 are of sutficient size for the articles contained in the carton to be readily visible. For instance, the labels 36 on the cylindrical cans 34 can readily be seen through the slots 24. Slots 24' are provided in the base 2 for the same purpose.

The cartons of the present invention can be formed of any suitable material and, if desired, modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, although the cartons will fre quently be formed of a relatively flexible material, if the material from which they are formed is insufliciently flexible to permit ready insertion of tabs 22 into slots 24, score or fold lines may be provided between the tabs 22 and the tongues 20. Similarly, score or fold lines may be provided at the junctions of tongues 20 and the end members 12 and 14.

What I claim is:

1. A can carrying carton comprising a base and a pair of opposing sides which are integral with and extend upwardly from said base, and at least one end member integral with said base and of generally triangular configuration, said end member having two upwardly extending edges from each of which there projects at least one tongue having opposed laterally extending tabs therefrom, each of said pair of opposing sides being provided With slots to receive said tongues and tabs whereby on engagement of said tongues in said slots, and said tabs underlying marginal parts of said sides at opposed sides of said tongues, said end member is securely but removably held in position to close the end of said carton, and said slots in said pair of opposing sides are extended along said sides so as to render readily visible the interior of the carton and any articles therein.

2. A can carrying carton as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said tongues has an upper and lower edge, on each of which at least one of said tabs is provided.

3. A can carrying carton as claimed in claim 2 in which each of said pair of opposing sides is provided at its upper end with an aperture so as to form a carrying handle with the corresponding aperture in the other of said pair of opposing sides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,296,760 3/1919 Bueschel 22954 1,715,583 6/ 1929 Warren 2298 3,199,765 8/ 1965 Locke 22922 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,019,065 2/1966 Great Britain.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

